Folding foot-rest.



R. DERBYSHIRE. FOLDING FOOT'REST. APPLICATION FILED APR.21, 1914.

I 5759 I nvent or Attorneys.

Patented Mar.23,1915.

Witness es g A F1;

FOLDING FO0T REST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented-Mar. 23,1915.

Application filed April 21, 1914- Serial No. 833,550.

To all whom it may concern 1 Be it known that I, RALPH DERBYSHIRE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fall River, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Folding Foot-Rest, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to furniture, and aims to provide a novel and improved folding foot rest, stool, or kindred support, embodying a top, and a pair of legs and a spreader hinged to the top to be folded thereagainst whereby the spreader may be swung between the legs to hold them separated, in combination with unique means operable to hold the legs against the top when the device is folded, and for also holding the spreader in active position, in order that the present device or structure may be conveniently erected and folded, and held in either position.

It is also within the scope of the invention, to provide a folding foot rest or stool of comparatively simple, compact and inexpensive construction, and'which will be convenient, serviceable, practical and efficient in use, the present structure being capable of use as a table, bench, or other support, as well as a foot rest or stool, and is to be con sidered broadly as a support for various purposes.

With the foregoing and other objects in .view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part thereof, the preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated, in which Figure 1 is aview in perspective of the improved folding foot stool in erected position. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same in a folded position, parts being broken away.

The stool or foot rest embodies a top or board 3 having legs 4 hinged thereto by hinges 5. The under surface of the board or foot rest is provided with the transverse grooves 6 within which the upper edges of the legs fit when the latter are in active or unfolded position as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Suitable reinforcing rods 7 extend longitudinally within the top 3 over the grooves 6 and brace the same at those points which are bottom of the top 3 and is adapted to receive the spreader 9 therein which is hinged to the top or board by the hinges 10. The spreader is of such sizeas to extend between the legs when the latter are swung apart to open position and holds the same in place and prevents their accidental. collapse. The spreader is adapted to be folded within the recess 8, when the device is folded, so that the legs'may be swung against the spreader, as well as the top or board 3, as seen in Fig. 2. r

A ring 11 is pivoted or connected loosely to the spreader by means of a staple 12 and provides a handle, so that the spreader may be readily withdrawn from the recess 8, to

assume the active position illustrated in Fig. 1.

A latch C is carried by the top 3 and is operable to engage the legs when they are swung against the top, to hold the parts in folded position, and is also operable to hold the spreader in active position when it is swung to hold the legs separated, and to this end the latch O embodies a bar or strip 13 having one end pivoted to the bottom of the top or board 3, by means of a screw or other pivot element 14:. The free end portion. of the latch is offset away from the top 3, to provide an arm 15 projecting away from the pivot element 14: and top 3, and having the head 16, which is offset away from the top 3, and which forms the free end portion of the latch. The head 16 is provided at its opposite edges with notches 17 for the engagement of the swingable ring 11 carried.

by the spreader 9, so that when the latch C is swung to one position so as to project to- Ward the spreader, the ring 11 of the spreader may be engaged to one of the notches 17 for holding the spreader in active position.

The lower ends of the legs L are cut away or recessed, as at 18, to accommodate the latch C and ring 11 when the device is folded, as seen in Fig. 2, it being noted that when the legs are swung against the top, the recesses 18 cotiperate to provide an opening for receiving the ring 11 and latch C. lhis also enables the latch to be swung away from the spreader to a reversed posi tion, whereby the side edge portions 19 of the head 16 of the latch may overlap the ad jacent ends of the legs 4: at one side of the opening l818, for holding the legs against the top.

From the foregoing, it will be obvious that the latch is adapted to be reversed, whereby it is adapted to hold the spreader 9 in active position at one position of the latch, and whereby the latch when swung to its other position, is adapted for holding the legs 4 against the top 3. The single latch device thus serves the dual function of holding the spreader in active position, and the legs in folded position adjacent the top, whereby the structure is rendered as simple and convenient as possible, and is otherwise of advantage.

A handle H is secured to one edge of the top or board and enables the device to be readily and conveniently handled or car ried about. The handle is so located that the latch projects downwardly when the folded structure is lifted or carried by the handle H, so that the latch will be less liable to swing out of engagement from the leg s1.

aving thus fully described my inven tion, what I claim is 1. A stool comprising a top, legs hinged thereto to swing toward each other against the, top, a spreader hinged to the top between the legs and adapted to be swung to hold the legs separated, and a reversible latch pivoted to the top and adapted to be swung to one position to engage the legs when they are swung against the top, to hold the parts in folded position, and adapted to be swung to another position to cooperate with the spreader and hold the spreader in active position when it is swung to hold the legs separated, the spreader having means for engagement with the latch device.

2. A stool comprising a top, legs hinged thereto to swing toward each other against the top, a spreader hinged to the top between the legs and adapted to be swung to hold the legs separated, and a reversible latch pivoted to the top and having its free end portion offset away from the top, the legs having recesses for accommodating the latch when the legs are swung against the top, and whereby when the latch is swung in one direction, the free end portion is adapted to overlap the adjacent ends of the legs for holding them in position adjacent the top, the free end portion of the latch and the spreader having interengageable means whereby when the latch is swung toward the spreader and the spreader swung to active position, the latch may hold-the spreader in place.

3. A stool comprising a top, legs hinged thereto to swing toward each other against the top, a spreader hinged to the top between the legs and adapted to be swung to hold the legs separated, a reversible latch pivoted to the top and having its free end portion ofiset away from the top, and a ring connected loosely to the spreader, the legs having recesses for accommodating the latch and ring when the legs are swung against the top, and whereby the latch may be swung to one position so that its free end portion will overlap the adjacent ends of the legs for holding the legs against the top, the free end portion of the latch having means for the engagement of the said ring when the latch is swung toward the spreader and the spreader swung to active position, so that the latch will hold the spreader in place.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aiiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

RALPH DERBYSHIRE.

Witnesses:

ALVIN G. Wnnns, EUcLmn J. LENARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

